Filling feeler for looms



ZADZBJQS E. C. SMETH FILLING FEELER FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1932 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILLING FEELER FOR LOOMS Application June 15, 1932, Serial No. 617,307

10 Claims.

My invention relates to side-slip feeler-devices of the electrical type for use in looms and particularly to means for limiting the vertical back-lash of the feeler tip thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a simplified and more effective spring-adjusting means for controlling the side-slipping action of the feeler-arm and an improved electrical contactspring which is positive in action and proof against distortion or derangement in use.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the mounting for the feeler by providing .a detachable and reversible base, whereby the feeler may be mounted on either side of the loom as best suits the situation to avoid replacing the controlling handles of the loom.

I accomplish the foregoing in the manner as disclosed in the following specification and accompanying drawings forming part of the speciiication. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a part sectional elevational view taken on line 1-! of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device with its cover removed, showing its relation to a full bobbin;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the feeler in sideslipping position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an alternative construction of the feeler-device;

Fig. 5 is an alternative view of the slide 6 and connected parts in part section;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the spring-adjusting element;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the base upon which the device is mounted;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the stud mounted on the feeler-finger; and

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the terminal member showing the method of forming the same.

My improved ieeler-device consists of a feelermember 2 having a contact-arm 3 and a feelerfinger '3 radiating from a hub portion ll thereof. The contact-arm 3 is substantially parallel with the center line of the device while the feeleri'inger 4 is disposed angularly with respect to said center line to induce a side-slipping action in the manner as is well understood by those versed in the art. The feeler-member 2 is mounted on a slide 6 by means of a stud 5 having a relatively large circular flange 8 against which the hub I1 is secured. The flange 8 of the stud is used for the purpose of limiting vertical play of the tip 9 of the feeler-finger 4. The slide 6 is provided with a vertical stop I!) at one end against which a contact-element l bent upwardly from the contact-arm 3 is normally held by a torsion spring I l coiled about the stud 5. One end of the spring engagesthe contact-element 1 on the contact- 4 arm and the other end engages in a hole [8 in a flange 12 of a spring-adjuster element l3 mounted on top of the stud 5 and secured thereto by a screw M which is screwed into a threaded hole in the top of said stud. The spring-adjuster I3 is of spool form having a barrel l5 about which the torsion spring II is coiled, and two flanges i2 and [6 to retain the spring. The top flange l2 extends beyond the outer diameter of the spring I l and is provided with the hole [8 for receiving the upper end of the spring ll. The barrel l5 of the spool is provided with a central bore H), see Fig. 6, which does not extend completely through said barrel, but is open at the bottom and closed at the upper end to form a plate portion 20. A hole 2| is drilled axially through the plate to receive the screw I4 which is screwed into the top of the stud 5. The plate portion 20 of the member l3 also has .a series of index holes 22, concentrically disposed about the central hole 2|. At the top of the stud is an index projection 23, preferably in the form of a pin mounted fast in the top of said stud. By turning the adjuster it may engage in any one of the index holes 22 to regulate the tension of the torsion-spring l I, after which the screw i4 is tightened in place to hold 25 the parts in this adjusted relationship. The eiastic resistance or reaction to turning or sideslipping of the feeler-finger 4 is thus minutely adjusted.

The various elements above described are assembled to form a unitary structure adapted to slide in a chamber 26 formed in a casing 25, which unitary structure I term the feeler unit at. In the sides of said chamber 26 are cut opposite guideways 21 near the top of the casing 25 in which the sides 29 of the slide-member 6 are adapted to slide. In order that the feeler-member 2, in side-slipping, shall swing clear of the top of the casing, it must bear upon a surface above the top of the casing 25. This can be accomplished in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 5 by embossing or forming the body of the slide 6 so the mid portion 28, between the guiding edges 29 is raised thereabove. I prefer to elevate the bearing by means of a bearing plate 30 which is mounted on a reduced shank 32 of the stud 5 above the slide 6, see Fig. 1. The slide 6 and bearing plate 39 are held against the shoulder 3| of the stud by riveting over the shank 32 thereof, thus making a permanent, integral assembly.

The rear end of the chamber 26 is closed by a wall 33 of the casing. The front end of the chamber is closed by a plate 34 secured to the casing by screws 35. A pin 36 is positioned in the casing 25 below the slide-plate 6, passing through a finger 31 of the latter and a hole formed in the plate 34. A flange 63 on the pin 36 is held against the plate 34 by means of a coilspring 38 positioned between the finger 3'? of the slide-plate 6 and-the flange 63. The spring 38 6.

extends parallel to and in close proximity with' the contact-arm 3 of the feeler-member. The terminal-screw 40 passes upwardly through the contact-member 4! and is screwed through a hole in the member 39. The inner end of the contactmember M, as above described, is formed with a spring-portion 42. Referring particularly to Fig. 10 of the drawings, the member 4! is provided with a laterally extending finger which is bent upwardly at right-angles to the main plate-like portion 4| and then folded upon itself in substantially J formation as indicated at 43 to project outwardly in spaced relation to the insulating plate 39, see also Figs. 3 and 4. When the complete contact-unit is assembled on the casing 25 by means of .screws 44 the spring-finger 42 extends in parallel relation with respect to the flat side of the feeler-flnger 3. When side-slipping of the finger 3 is induced the finger 3 contacts with the spring-finger 42 to ground the electric circuit in the manner as later more fully explained.

A cover 52 secured to the casing by screws encloses the mechanism above described, save for the parts that necessarily project beyond the rear of the casing and cover. These parts are the feeler-finger 4 and a rearward projection 53 of the bearing plate 30. This projection is carried toward the end of the feeler-flnger, adding to its support and diminishing vertical play of the tip 9. Similar support can, in some circumstances, be secured by making the casing with a rearwardly extending shelf or support 54 upon which the feeler-finger 4 slides, see Fig. 4.

The casing 25 is mounted on a plate 55 by means of screws 56. The plate 55 is made to project to one side of the casing and its projecting portion is adapted to be adjustably mounted on the loom by any suitable means. The base is made with two sets of holes, see Fig. 8, the holes of one set being countersunk on one face of the plate and the holes of the other set being countersunk on the opposite sideof said plate. Accordingly the plate may be reversed as shown in Fig. 2, so that the slotted projectionv will lie. either to the same side with the electric terminal 39 as shown in broken lines, or to the opposite side thereof as shown in fulllines.

In operation, the feeler-finger 2 together with its attached tip 8 normally extends rearwardly from the casing 25 under the action of the spring 33. The feeler-device is generally located adjacent the box end of the loom and as the shuttles complete their lateral traverse across'the lay of the loom and into the box, the lay moves forwardly to beat up the filling threads. The shuttle S is thus carried forward and the end 9 of the feeler-finger 2 enters the rectangular aperture or window 62 thereof and makes contact with the bobbin b or with the periphery of the yarn mass wound thereon. 'When the feeler-tip 9 is engaged by the thread mass on the bobbin it is pushed forwardly in a straight line in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that the upturned contact-element l of the feeler-finger slides in the casing 25 without making contact with the springfinger 42. During this movement the feeler-finger is prevented from moving laterally or sideslipping because of the positive engagement of the teeth 5'! ii). the yarn mass.

'When, however, the yarn mass has become exhausted and the smooth surface of the bobbin contacts with end 9 of the feeler during the forward swing of the lay, the tip 9 slides on the periphery of the bobbin and is thereby swung laterally in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3. The forward end 7 is thus swung about its axis to make contact with the spring 42. Usually the feeler-device forms part of an electrical circuit which operates, through the means of a suitable stopping mechanism, when the circuit is grounded to actuate the stopping mechanism and arrest the operation of the loom. A wire forming part of the circuit is usually attached to the terminal-screw 40 and when the contact-element l of the feeler contacts with the spring 42 the electrical current passes through the contact-element 4i thence through the feelere member 2 and finally through the metallic feeler mechanism to the side-frame of the loom to form a ground. The grounding of the circuit in this manner acts to energize the stopping mechanism of the loom in the manner as well known to those versed in the art.

It has been the usual practice to cut the window 62 of the shuttle S central with the axis of the shuttle, symmetrically disposed with relation to said axis, This permitted any vertical play of the tip 9 of the feeler-finger 4 to equalize itself above and below the axis of the bobbin and reduce the tendency of said feeler-finger tip to wedge between the curvature of the depleted bobbin and either the top or bottom edge of the window. With my added support namely, the extended bearing 53 of the bearing plate 39 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or the shelf 54 illustrated in Fig. 4, downward play of the. feeler-finger is eliminated. Consequently it is possible to set the feeler with its extremity below the center line of the shuttle and bobbin and. in close proximity to the bottom of the window 52 because any downward thrust is taken by the support 53, or by the shelf 54 as the case may be. With this low setting of the finger 4, tendency to override the top of the bobbin is overcome whereby a more positive action of the feeler 2 is assured. Moreover, the device may be easily and conveniently regulated to position its finger 4 in correct relation with respect to the window 62 without requiring minute adjustment or expertness on the part of the workman.

The contact-spring 42 of the terminal provides a great degree of fiexure without causing distortion of the parts. The duration of electrical contact between the contact-arm 3 and the spring 42 is frequently less than one-fifteenth of a second. Hence it is desirable that the contact-arm 3 encounter the contact-spring 42 instantaneously and continue in contact as long as possible without undue strain on the contact-spring and that the spring should positively return to its initial position. The improved'construction of the contact-element 4! provides great flexibility ecause of its special U-formation which affords the longest possible spring from the point of fiexure, relative to the extent of flexure under sideeslipping action.

The means for adjusting the spring I I constitutes a feature of improvement in the present invention in that it may be readily adjusted to govern the rotative movement of the arm 4 about the stud 5 to insure that after a side-slipping action has taken place, the arm will be positively and rapidly returned to initial position. The torsion spring H need not be removed from the stud 5 during its adjustment so that there is no danger of dislocating any of the parts of the device.

Without limiting myself to the precise details of construction shown and described, I claim:

1. In a side-slip feeler, the combination with a feeler-unit r, a casing 25 in which said unit is movably mounted and recoil means 38 to hold said unit to normal position and return it to normal position when moved therefrom, of a base 55 having a portion projecting from one side of said casing and having provision for mounting the feeler and having provision for attaching the base so as to project from either side of the feeler, and means for attaching the base to the casing.

2. In a side-slip feeler, the combination with a feeler-finger, a slide therefor, means to mount said finger on said slide, a casing within which the said slide moves and a spring to react to movement of the slide, of a supporting bearing for the finger moving with the slide and extending outwardly from the casing toward the tip of said finger.

3. In a side-slip feeler, the combination with a feeler-member having a contact-arm and a i'eeler-arm, a slide having an upturned stop to encounter said contact-arm and at the opposite end of said slide a downturned lug, and a recoil spring engaging said lug to react to movement of the slide, of a stud secured to said slide having a flange, the feeler-member being mounted on the stud between the fiange and slide, a torsion spring mounted on the stud to hold the contactarm of the feeler against the upturned stop on the slide, means to secure said torsion spring, an insulated contact-spring adjacent the contactarm of said feelermember which spring is formed with a U-bend, the bottom of the U being toward the tip of the feeler-arm and the open end of the U being toward the front of the feeler and with one side of the U longer than the other side and extending close to the contact-arm of said feelermember, and a casing in which the aforesaid parts are mounted.

4. In a spring controlling device for the feelermember of a side-slip feeler, the combination with said member of a stud on which said member is mounted having an axial threaded hole at the top, an index pin set in the top of said stud, a spring having one end engaged with said feeler member, an adjusting spool with flanges between which said spring is mounted and formed with an axial hole having an open end by which it engages the top of the stud and a closed end by which it is secured to said stud, the closed end having an axial hole and a series of index holes with any one of which the index pin can be engaged, and a screw entering the threaded hole of said stud through the axial hole in the spool to hold the spool to its index pin and secure said spool to said stud.

5. In a contact-unit for a side-slip finger, a base of insulating material with provision for mounting same in the feeler, a flat plate extending through said insulation with one end formed for attaching a circuit wire and the other end being turned at substantially right-angles to the plate, and the right-angle portion being further formed as a J with one long arm and one short arm, the short arm being joined to the plate and the long arm constituting the spring contact of the unit.

6. A contact-spring of a side-slip feeler consisting initially of a flat blank of L-formation, one arm of the L being relatively wide to furnish a substantial base for securement and provision for attaching a circuit wire, and the other arm of the L being relatively narrow to constitute an elastic contact-arm; the flat blank being bent at right-angles to the surface of the first described wide arm on a line parallel with the narrow arm, and the narrow arm thereafter being bent in J-form which results in a short arm to which the base joins and a long flexible arm for contact purposes.

'7. A contact-spring for an electrical side-slip feeler having a relatively wide base member and relatively narrow contact-member, the juncture of the contact-member with the base-member extending from one side of the base-member but being of less width than the base-member, and the contact-member extending from the juncture to the other side of the base-member and then reversing in a U-bend and extending back and beyond the first edge of the base-member.

8. In a side slip feeler, the combination of a side slip finger, a slide to carry said finger, means to mount said finger on the slide, a casing within which the slide moves, a recoil spring to react to movement of said slide, a bearing plate for said finger carried on the slide, said plate extending outwardly from the casing toward the tip of said finger to support the latter both when side slipping and when not side slipping, and means to both secure the plate and slide and mount said finger thereon.

9. In a spring adjuster for the feeler member of a side slip feeler, the combination with a spring, of a spool with flanges between which the spring is mounted and having an axial cavity to receive the member on which said adjuster is mounted, said cavity terminating in a portion having an axial perforation for securing the adjuster in position and provided with a series of index perforations radially disposed about the axial perforation for determining the relative position in which the adjuster is to be secured.

10. In a side slip feeler, the combination with a side slip unit X, which unit comprises in one self-contained structure a slide formed with a stop, a feeler finger mounted on said slide to turn with respect thereto and limited in one direction of its swinging movement by said stop, a spring to hold said finger against said stop and permit movement of said finger away from the stop, and means to mount the finger and spring on said slide, of a casing 25 within which said unit X is movably mounted, resilient means to hold the unit X to normal position in its path of movement and permit it to be moved from said normal position, a base plate 55 secured to the casing 25 in one or the other of alternative po- 65 EDWIN C. SMITH. 

